KUCHING: The nation’s first astronaut Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor continues to be source of inspiration to Malaysians young and old.
Over 700 participants attended his public lecture entitled ‘My Journey into Space’ at the Islamic Information Centre (IIC) yesterday (Aug 17).
The programme was hosted by Islamic Information Centre-Sarawak Islamic Council (IIC-MIS) in collaboration with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) and the Regional Islamic Da’wah Council of Southeast Asia and The Pacific (RISEAP).
The lecture is part of the Islamic Creativity and Innovation Festival (FesKII) 2023 themed ‘The Beauty of Islam’ from Aug 17 to 20 in conjunction with Sarawak’s 60th independence celebration.
Besides forums and lectures, various activities like Islamic art exhibition, falak (astronomy) artifacts, and telescope exhibition, hajj simulation, robotic innovations and calligraphy competition were held within the IIC compounds.
Dr Sheikh Muszaphar shared his space journey experience.
As an orthopedic surgeon, he has been involved in space research and humanitarian efforts, such as volunteering in war-torn Afghanistan and flood-stricken Cambodia.
Since his journey into space in 2007, he has been inspiring the younger generation through motivational talks and authored books.
He also established the National Astronaut Foundation to promote studies in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and medicines to the young generation.
Among the awards he received over the years include Tokoh Maal Hijrah and Tokoh Maulidul Rasul, and he was listed in ‘The 500 Most Influential Muslims’ from the year 2010 to 2022.
He recently won the Best Icon of Malaysia 2023 award.
Also present during the event were Deputy Minister of Telecommunication and Utilities Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Sarawak Islamic Council chairman Datuk Misnu Taha, and Sarawak Islamic Council cum Sarawak Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) director Ustaz Khalidi Ibrahim.
